The Wichita State Shockers are very likely going to win the Missouri Valley Conference this year, and there aren't all that many teams which are going to give them a fight, particularly on their home court. That said, the Northern Iowa Panthers have a history of being a real thorn in the side of the Shockers, and they're very likely to be riding a five-game winning streak into this game at Charles Koch Arena on Saturday afternoon.
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HOW THE NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Northern Iowa might not have the greatest team in the MVC, but we certainly know that it's going to be a tough team to stop on the perimeter. The Panthers shoot 38.7 percent from beyond the arc, led by Matt Bohannon, who has knocked down 247 threes and counting in his collegiate career and is historically right around a 40 percent shooter from downtown.
The Panthers have to do all the little things right in this game. They average just under 10 turnovers per game and shoot 73.9 percent from the foul line. Points are going to be at a premium for sure, and shooting 16-of-49 from the field like they did against Wichita State back in January won't cut it.
It would also help if Paul Jesperson could have one of these explosion games. He put up 21 against Drake and 28 against Bradley in the last couple weeks, but he also totaled just six points against Evansville and Southern Illinois as well.
HOW THE WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Wichita State has a history of really dominating teams on the boards, and that could end up being a massive hassle for the Panthers, who are being outdone by over two boards per game.
The Shockers limit possessions as it is with their stout defense, and about the only way they're going to get beat is if they beat themselves. In their loss to Illinois State, the Shockers were outrebounded 41-32, including giving up a stunning 11 offensive rebounds. We know that won't be a problem in this one.
Fred VanVleet has dished out 22 assists against just five turnovers in his last three games combined, and when he's at his best, this offense is really tough to stop. Of course, VanVleet could do it with his shot as well, as he proved against Evansville when he poured in 32 points.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Panthers have the clearly inferior team in this one, but there's still this public perception that they're good enough to win these games on the road against teams like Wichita State.
The Shockers might have ultimately failed miserably against Illinois State, but that was clearly just a bump in the road. Throw that game out, and what's left is a team which has not only gone 9-0 SU since January 9 but is 9-0 ATS as well, beating teams in the Valley by an average of 25.0 points per game.
We're not ones to bet against trends. When teams like this are hot, they tend to really keep things going for a long period of time.
Ron Baker and VanVleet haven't had the best history against these Panthers, but this is a shot to go out and flex muscles once again for Wichita State. If there's any doubt as to whether the Shockers are the best team in the Valley, they'll remove any of it by beating the only other team anywhere near as hot as they are up at home on Saturday.
Wichita State 71, Northern Iowa 52
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The matchup between the Northern Iowa Panthers and Wichita State Shockers will kick off Saturday, February 13, 2016, at 12:00 p.m. ET at Charles Koch Arena. The matchup will be televised live on ESPN2.
